Engine stalled and won't start - please help!

[marquisman]

I have experienced this with bad TFI modules.

[VicCrownVic]

Rochester Hills?! What color is your '89? I've seen a handful of boxes around here, maybe I've seen yours.

When my TFI module died on my '89 the car stalled very suddenly as I put it into park in the car port at my apartment. I tried to start it back up and it would run for a few seconds then cut back out, after a few starts it would not start at all. Before this episode there were no signs of trouble as far as how the car ran. Where the module is located exposes it to a good amount of heat, it tends to be prone to failure, mine was actually a spot where melting.

[VicCrownVic]

mine was actually a spot where melting.

Wow, that was supposed to say that mine actually had a spot where it was melting/had been melting.

[lithdoc]

Rochester Hills?! What color is your '89? I've seen a handful of boxes around here, maybe I've seen yours.

When my TFI module died on my '89 the car stalled very suddenly as I put it into park in the car port at my apartment. I tried to start it back up and it would run for a few seconds then cut back out, after a few starts it would not start at all. Before this episode there were no signs of trouble as far as how the car ran. Where the module is located exposes it to a good amount of heat, it tends to be prone to failure, mine was actually a spot where melting.

Haha another one from Rochester Hills? Glad to know that! Mine is burgundy, with all electric interior. I personally haven't seen that many boxes around here, except the one that was parked on Walton and Old Perch with a "For Sale" sign on it. Also, my neighbor in my old condo had a blue 84 Crown Vic.

I'm looking for the TFI modules through auto parts stores, but cannot seem to find any. TFI is not the same thing as ICM, right? Sorry for asking what are seemingly silly questions, have never dealt with electrical issues before...

[miamibob]

EBAY has 'em!! Not sure about ROCKAUTO. Do you need to get it in person or can wait for shipping??

[lithdoc]

I found this

Looks like the $13 ICM item from RockAuto. So is TFI = ICM?

[miamibob]

TFI is that grey unit on the bottom of the distributor. Looks like a rectangle. Do a google search is you need a photo of it.......

[lithdoc]

This?

[miamibob]

That is the TFI!

[lithdoc]

Thank you. All the stores list it as the ICM.

I will look at it when the snow stops and report back. Thank you for your help guys.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[marquisman]

Dont forget to get some thermal goop/compound, from your computer supply store. Then put a light coat on the back of the module. It will act as a heat sink and will help promote longer life.

[VicCrownVic]

$13, That's a good deal cheaper than what I found at Autonzone.
TFI replacement video below, I know it's a mustang but it's the same thing.

Mine is Crystal Blue Metallic, when I got it back in October I wasn't sure what color it was. In the right (or maybe not right) light it looked silver, but out in the open you can see the blue. I have a white '89 with blue top that I've had since 2003, but that's parked at my parents house for now.
I work in Pontiac, I used to see a really nice looking '88-'89 black CV going the opposite direction all the time. I saw a really nice black '84-'87 MGM in the parking lot at work once, and a grey '88-'91 a few times too.

[86VickyLX]

Disconnect negative battery terminal... BAH

[85crownHPP]

My 85 was erratically loosing spark because the distributor pickup was going bad. Sometimes it would not start when parked, sometimes it would quit going down the road (but always came back). I swapped coils and TFI modules and 'hoped' it was good, but it wasn't. It could have really left me high and dry but luckily it only died for good while parked in the driveway. I'd keep a fresh good plan B in mind in case yours leaves you stranded before you figure it out.

[lithdoc]

If I look and everything looks good on the surface, is there any way to troubleshoot your way through these, i.e., narrowing down to the culprit? I'd hate to replace all 3 and still be potentially stuck without a fix...

In the meantime, I think I'll get roadside assistance insurance.